Comic Scene At Review Of Volunteers

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 15, 3 November 1950, Page 7

Comic Scene At Review Of Volunteers

From H.L.V., Christchurch. I think the year would be 1886 when I saw Sir Harry Atkinson reviewing volunteers on reclaimed land in Wellington. The occasion sticks in my memory chiefly for the comic side, for in those days volunteer parades were not unusual. I went along with the rest of Wellington to a spot near the wooden Government Buildings which in those days we thought would do the civil service for a century. The Wellington wind blew as strongly then as now, or perhaps even stronger, for there was little shelter. Sheets of grit and clay dust were blowing across the reclamation into the faces of the volunteers who were drawn up in long lines. It was the day of varied uniforms. Some of the men were in the old bush-fighting blue; others were in different colours of regimentals. Most were bearded or had moustaches, and all the officers carried their swords tucked under their left arm. I was in the Linwood Rifles in Christchurch, so I fancied myself quite an expert and was criticising the turnout while waiting for the “big gun” to arrive. He kept us waiting quite a time and it began to be a bit boring. At last someone sang out, “Here he comes” and we could see Sir Harry riding down the hill from Parliament. Just as he got near the parade some wag gave a bit of t cheer and the crowd took it up. This must have started his horse, for it broke into a gallap and Sir Harry dashed down the line of volunteer! like the Light Brigade. I can see him now with his beard blowing back and the white feathers in his cocked hat flapping (he was a military major, so I suppose he was entitled to wear it as a field officer). He wasn’t much of a rider as far as grace went, but he stuck to his beast and went down the lines, elbows and he els out, sword dangling on the horse’s flanks, and the bit sawing away at the brute’s mouth. He pulled it up at the far end after treading on a few toes and, I suppose, to show that he had done it on purpose, pulled it round and galloped down the parade. There was a bit of laughter from the crowd and a certain amount of “chi-aking.” Since he couldn’t take it out on the spectators, he sailed into the volunteers and had them drilling at top for a long time.